WI ‘A’ crash in one-day finale

Set 228 to win after Sri Lanka were dismissed for 227 in 49.4 overs, the regional side’s batsmen struggled from the outset before collapsing for a paltry 155 in 43.3 overs.

Sri Lanka won the series 3-1.

The first seven West Indies batsmen all failed to reach 20 and it took the Herculean efforts of tail-ender Dave Mohammed to rescue the team’s pride with a cavalier 43 from 50 balls.

He smashed six sixes and one four in his whirlwind innings that propelled the West Indies from 116 for nine to their eventual score, before he was the last man out.

It was a great all-round game for the 25-year old Mohammed who earned figures of four for 23 with his left arm spin as Sri Lanka were dismissed for a competitive score, after winning the toss and batting first. The home side had a shaky start when they lost opener Avishka Gunawardene (4) and Saman Jayantha (3) cheaply with only 20 on the board in the eighth over.

But Upul Tharanga, who struck six fours in 44 from 76 balls, and Chanaka Wijesinghe, who scored 24, combined in a stand of 62 for the third wicket that guided Sri Lanka out of danger.

Wijesinghe became the first of Mohammed’s four wickets when he gave Darren Sammy the second of his two catches, and Tharanga followed soon afterward to leave Sri Lanka at 103 for four in the 33rd over.

Captain Russell Arnold then came to his team’s rescue and it was his brisk, unbeaten 69 from 64 balls that guided them to their eventual total.

The 31-year-7old left-hander, who has already played 44 Tests, hit six fours and shared a 72-run, fifth wicket stand with Prasanna Jayawardene whose 39 required a mere 33 balls, with five fours.

But Sri Lanka lost their last five wickets for 52 runs in 55 balls.

In reply, left armer Zoysa prised out openers Lendl Simmons (1) and Sewnarine Chattergoon (16) in his opening burst and Dilhara added Marlon Samuels to the list of scalps, as the West Indies stumbled to 29 for three in the eighth over.

Tottering at 73 for seven in the 24th over, West Indies required the heroics of Richard Kelly (20), Sammy (21) and Mohammed, in adding 82 for the last three wickets and saving themselves embarrassment.